How the Wireless Level Sensor Optimises Your Logistics
Published on : Friday 01-04-2022
How to save time and money with mobile or stationary level measurement.
The combination of sensor, cloud connection and software solution enables the optimisation of logistics chains. The reliable recording of relevant data such as fill level or GPS coordinates via the sensor is the foundation for inventory management. From this, information such as "mass in tons" can be precisely determined. This provides transparency of inventories at locations and therefore creates usable knowledge for delivery planning. The optimisation of logistics costs results from the avoidance of unnecessary journeys, route optimisation and the guarantee of material availability.
Eliminate guesswork, generate knowledge
Optimise complex logistics chains in the bulk solids industry with cloud-based inventory management.
Inventory management of bulk solids is an essential component in optimising logistics costs.
Cloud-based inventory management helps to ensure that products that are required on a regular basis, such as building materials, salt, wood pellets, grain or animal feed, are always available in sufficient quantities.
Ensuring product availability – but how?
Asset inventory information is essential in many industries. In the bulk solids sector, the use of building materials such as gypsum, sand and gravel as well as animal feed has to be planned. The uninterrupted availability of materials is essential for a smooth process on construction sites or in agricultural operations.
Fighting the cause with cloud-based level measurement
The cloud-based and battery-powered sensor FWR30 provides the necessary data to enable inventory management.
The challenges of using mobile measuring points are manifold besides the detection of the filling level.
The location of mobile silos is mostly unknown. The mass in the bulk containers must be calculated based on fill levels. In addition, mobile silos are often located in places without power supply or connection to a control system.
The Micropilot FWR30 level sensor sends measurement data such as the level, ambient temperature, GPS coordinates and position directly to the cloud via common mobile radio standards such as LTE. This is where the calculation of the mass takes place. Information on fill levels, ambient temperature, GPS position, measured value history and battery status can be retrieved at any time using software.
How data becomes knowledge
Simply recording and transmitting data via the sensor is not yet inventory management. In order to precisely plan the delivery of material and avoid last-minute orders, smart data processing is also required.
The basis for inventory management is reliable sensor data - consisting of fill level, position angle, ambient temperature and GPS location. The measured fill level is combined with other data such as material density and silo geometry to produce information - mass in tons.
Only then, with the addition of location information, can a reliable pool of knowledge be used to optimise the logistics chain. In this way, scheduling can be used to plan the delivery of material to locations that are close to each other, which leads to an increase in efficiency and a reduction in CO2 emissions.
Predictive maintenance as well as silo replenishment
The "SupplyCare Hosting" software is able to map complex inventory management processes across complete logistics chains. Using the software, fill levels in silos can be called up via the browser, regardless of the end device. The material and information flow can be viewed internally at any time and, if desired, also by end customers via a QR code.
Status information of silos, for example the contained mass or the location, can always be viewed. Alarm and event management allows timely intervention in the event of limit values being undershot or exceeded. Due to the availability of the battery status, predictive maintenance for mobile measuring points in silos can also be implemented. This avoids the failure of the measurement during operation.
The software functionality is rounded off using the enhanced knowledge pool and enables streamlined replenishment of materials based on the combination of actual fill levels and consumption history of the respective silo.
Unique system for calculating the mass
For liquids, the only thing that is decisive for a volume calculation is the shape of the container due to their smooth surface. In contrast, for a mass calculation of bulk material with a desired accuracy of 0.5 to 1 ton, a solution for varying surfaces (e.g. cone and funnel) must be found. After all, the higher the density of the material, the more precisely the average filling level must be determined. Via information from the sensor, conclusions are generated about the condition of the silo (e.g. placement) and thus about the product surface. Assuming that the mass of a material with a density of 1.2 t/m³ is to be determined in a silo with a diameter of 2.5 m with a maximum deviation of one ton. Then the solution can be used to determine the average filling level with an accuracy of at better than 17 cm as well as to precisely measure the mass in the silo.
Integrate raw data securely and easily via Netilion Connect
In addition to the digital service "SupplyCare Hosting", the Micropilot FWR30 level sensor can also be linked to "Netilion Connect". This enables secure and simple data transfer as well as the integration of data into the customer's system. Netilion meets the requirements of ISO27017 (Information Security Management) according to the external certification body SQS. This internationally recognised cyber security standard contains additional requirements for secure cloud platforms. Conformity with the requirements from ISO 27017 additionally ensures that customers can rely on the security of their data in Endress+Hauser's Netilion IIoT ecosystem. The simple exchange of raw data is implemented via a REST/JSON standards-based API (Application Programmable Interface). This interface facilitates the use of the data generated by the sensor at the user's site.
Stay up to date with the world of IIoT and Netilion: https://netilion.endress.com/digital-services/analytics
Netilion is an award-winning cloud-based IIoT ecosystem, designed for industrial processes. It connects the physical and digital worlds to send valuable information from the field straight to your phone, tablet or other device. Netilion empowers you to improve efficiency and drive innovation.
For more details write back to us on [email protected]
